NEWS & MEDIA

‘Toys from the Heart’ brings joy to area children

HAMMOND –It's a holiday tradition of toys coordinated by Southeastern Louisiana University
student organizations to benefit children in the local community.

Since 2005, Southeastern's Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Zeta Phi Beta
sorority and a fluctuating host of other organizations on Southeastern's campus will
collaborate to organize the "Toys from the Heart" toy drive. This year, they are joined
by Phi Beta Sigma, African American Alumni Association, Student United Way, and NAACP.

The organizations expect to collect enough toys for 400 children this holiday season.

"This is the ninth year for the toy drive," said Donnisha Patterson, student coordinator
for the drive, "but this year the student coordinators decided to change the format
to benefit selected children in community programs, such as Head Start and the Successful
Transitions Program, instead of families registering for toys."

Patterson said the students are asking the Hammond community and all Southeastern
departments, faculty, staff and students to make a donation of a toy or a monetary
donation toward the purchase of a new toy.

New, unwrapped toys may be delivered to donation boxes located in the Student Union
East and West sides from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov 10-13, Nov. 17 – 20, Nov. 24-25,
and Dec. 1-2. Donation boxes will also be located inside the Pennington Student Activity
Center, located at the corner of University Avenue and General Pershing Avenue, and
in the SGA office in Mims Hall, room 118.

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